Cathedral
In raggie season up to 40 ragged-tooth sharks rest in this reef amphitheatre; in summer, look out for hammerheads above.
- Advanced
- Rock formations
- Hammerhead sharks
Advanced≤30 m
Raggies Cave
Dive site in Aliwal Shoal & Protea Banks, South Africa
Aliwal's most popular site: kneel at the cave entrance to watch ragged-tooth sharks in season, then hunt for shed shark teeth in the sand.
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Level
- Advanced
- Best months
- May–Nov
- Entry
- By boat
- Current
- Moderate
The dive
A cave and pelagic dive from a boat. Known for ragged-tooth sharks.
Who it's for
Advanced≤30 mSource: aliwalshoal.co.za
Recommended minimum: Advanced (PADI Advanced Open Water, N2).
- OverheadPart of the dive is under a ceiling, without a direct way up.
- Requires Cave certification.
Conditions
- Dive type
- Cave, Pelagic, Reef
- Current
- Moderate
- Estimated
- Environment
- Cavern (daylight visible)
- Water
- Sea water
What you might see
- Ragged-tooth sharks
- Groupers
- Moray eels
Season in Aliwal Shoal & Protea Banks
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Good
- Possible
- Closed
- Not documented yet
Best months: May–Nov.
Source: blueoceandive.co.zaWhere is Aliwal Shoal & Protea Banks?
The point shows the Aliwal Shoal & Protea Banks area, not the exact dive site.
More dives in Aliwal Shoal & Protea Banks
Drift
down to 40 m
Protea Banks
A marine protected area since 2019 where dives bring close encounters with tiger, bull and hammerhead sharks and giant guitarsharks.
- Advanced
- Bull sharks
Wreck
down to 32 m
MV Produce
A molasses freighter sunk in 1974, lying upright in three sections; home to lionfish and, reputedly, two giant brindle bass.
- Advanced
- Tiger sharks
Wreck
down to 27 m
Nebo
An 1884 steamer wreck with its propeller and boiler still visible, large shoals of baitfish all year, and barracuda and tuna hunting them.
- Advanced
- Tuna
Reef
down to 14 m
South Sands
- Open Water
- Dolphins
Drift
down to 30 m
Arena Reef
- Advanced
About this page
Values marked “Estimated” come from our original catalogue and are being checked against published sources one by one. Sourced values link to where they come from. Conditions change with the season, the weather and the tide: confirm with a local dive centre before you dive.
Photo credits
- Cathedral Aliwal Shoal dive site, Aliwal Shoal, South Africa, Peter Southwood, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
